By Sunday 
When the Detroit Lions announced Drew Petzing as their next offensive coordinator, the reaction was instant — and loud. Confusion, skepticism, hot takes flying everywhere. Petzing’s name hadn’t exactly been trending in Lions circles, so for many fans, the hire felt like it came out of nowhere.
But according to former NFL defensive end Chris Long, this move wasn’t just about football. It was about psychology.
And maybe… a little revenge.
A Hire That Felt Personal
On his podcast, Chris Long dropped what many fans were probably thinking but hadn’t said out loud yet: the Lions’ decision to hire Petzing might have been a deliberate attempt to mess with former OC Ben Johnson — now the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Long pointed out the most eyebrow-raising detail of all:
“Petzing was in Ben Johnson’s wedding, so that’s a psychological power move dude … This is the most interesting thing. Ben Johnson is getting the squeeze put on him.”
That alone turns a routine coordinator hire into something far more personal.
The NFL Is Small — And Petty
Long didn’t stop there. He painted a picture of Johnson as a coach who’s made enemies across the league, whether intentionally or not.
“They f—— hate him Green Bay. (Matt) LaFleur hates him. LA, the Rams, I don’t think (Sean) McVay likes him because of what he did to LaFleur. And then Dan Campbell hiring his groomsmen. That’s a mind f—.”
That last part hits hardest. Hiring someone from Johnson’s inner circle? That’s not just football ops — that’s NFL psychology at its finest.
“You basically delete that friend, and the guy knows you well.”
Cold.
Beyond the Mind Games, There’s Football Sense
As wild as the psychological angle is, Long also made sure to bring it back to the field. Petzing is stepping into a far better situation in Detroit than what he dealt with previously.
The Lions’ running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery gives him a foundation most coordinators would kill for. Injuries wrecked his previous backfield, but even then, he managed to squeeze out respectable production.
With a healthier offensive line — and ideally a real solution at center — Petzing’s run-first mentality could thrive.
Back to What Detroit Does Best
Detroit struggled last season in areas that once defined them, especially zone runs.
“Detroit just had trouble in some areas that they were really good in. Namely, like, zone runs this year. They sucked…”
Long noted that Petzing leans more toward gap schemes and counter plays, which could be exactly what this offense needs to reset and recalibrate.
Add in his comfort with tight-end usage, and suddenly the hire doesn’t feel so random anymore.
Fans Just Want Proof
At the end of the day, Lions fans don’t care about psychology unless it translates to wins. After how poorly the John Morton situation went last season, skepticism is fair.
Still, if Chris Long is right, Detroit didn’t just hire a coordinator — they made a statement.
Whether it’s strategy, spite, or straight-up genius, one thing is clear: this hire has layers.
And the NFL never forgets.